My aunt Kathy passed away October of 2022 at the age of 84. She was the last of the "team." She was also the last of my parents generation. The reality of being the oldest generation in our family has hit hard over the last year.
Many things over the year and a half have helped me to realize that life moves forward. I was charged with cleaning out the home that my Aunt Kathy lived in. She had been there with her parents from the age of 13. My mother went on to college and never really lived in the home. Kathy referred to the team all the time. They were Honey, Granddad, Grandmom and Kathy
My grandfather was the generous type and he loved people. He was blessed as a young man to step into a job that shaped his lifetime. In the early 1920 he landed a job as a photographer for the Washington Post. He was given a camera and sent on assignment. The camera and him became one in no time and his photographs became noticed. Over the years he worked for companies like the New York Times, Saturday Evening Post and Life Magazine. Later in his career he went freelance with my Aunt Kathy at his side.
My grandfather's mother was called Honey. We all thought that she was a saint. She had so much kindness and wisdom. I remember her rubbing her hands late in life as she had arthritis.
Grandmom didn't venture to much from the home on Fowl River. She was quiet and read books a lot. She never bragged about her cooking but she could make a wonderful meal out of left overs.
Kathy hated to spend money on anything and saved everything. She was outdoors all the time. she would walk the Fowl River property everyday picking up sticks.
The house was packed full of treasures and trash. It took about 18 months to clear it out. While cleaning out my Grandparents home back in October 2023, I came across an old shoe box with pieces of stained glass. I put it in my car. I would put a few items every now an then in my car to take home. I set the box of glass pieces aside because I just hated the idea of throwing it away.
I also have a good friend who does a lot of stained glass work. He has made some incredible pieces.
One day when Paul was visiting, I offered him the glass. He looked through the shoe box and talked about each piece of glass. He accepted the gift and I never thought about it again.
Today he shows up at my house with this beautiful stained glass cross. Just another reminder that God can take the broken pieces of our lives and make something beautiful out of them.
